10 Nisan 2012 Salı

Two-Tier ERP: A Practical and Profitable Strategy

Business leaders across industries are challenging
conventional wisdom that preaches business-wide, single-solution enterprise
resource planning (ERP) standardization. They’re recognizing that to be
innovative and progressive, divisions and subsidiaries within large
organizations require a blend of flexibility and power from their ERP solutions
that corporate-wide systems just can’t provide.

Two-tier
ERP: Play to your strengthsOur two-tier ERP strategy is rooted in a common
sense, practical approach to IT planning and governance: Use the right solution
for the right situation.

Instead of force-fitting a corporate-wide ERP
system throughout the entire enterprise, divisions or subsidiaries can
capitalize on nimble architectures available in modern systems like Microsoft
Dynamics AX.

In this model, divisional leaders get the
flexible and powerful solution they need and tight business integration with
their corporate or administrative ERP system.

Two-tier
ERP in actionWhen is two-tier ERP a viable option? When a
division or subsidiary has a business model or specific needs that differ from
the broader corporation. In those cases, a two-tier ERP approach lets leaders
launch the right solution for their needs and their industry, so they can adapt,
respond, and drive profitable change for their business.

RetailRetailers have to move fast, and their
approaches to managing core business elements like foundational product data can
vary greatly. And corporate-wide ERP systems can’t adjust to the speed of
retail.In a two-tier ERP model, retailers can
launch:

Targeted and tailored inventory solutions that
adapt across lines and departments and unify inventory management across
channels.

Targeted point-of-sale (POS) or e-commerce
solutions or a single, integrated solution that unifies the customer experience
across
channels.

Manufacturing

The increasingly
complex world of global manufacturing and fluctuating customer demand requires
an ERP system that can adapt and lead profitable change. Too often,
corporate-wide ERP systems just can’t keep up.

In a two-tier ERP model, manufacturers can
launch:

Tailored inventory solutions that adapt to how
raw materials and finished products flow in and out of each
business.

Integrated logistics solutions that unite each
manufacturer with its unique set of suppliers, partners, distributors, and
customers.

Targeted reporting suites that roll information
up the way division or subsidiary leaders need to both run the business and
report to
headquarters.

Distribution

Distributors need complete understanding of
their customers for accurate business planning and to ensure they’re focusing on
customers that drive real revenue to the bottom line. Most corporate-wide ERP
systems simply don’t have the targeted functionality or flexibility a
distributor needs.